The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-07-16
OTTAWA AND THE CANAL BOARD,
Something for the City Council aud the People 70
Consider.

gipg for investment IT low interest, and ~
consequence all over the west and south
new enterprises were springing up at
rate the country never before had wilt
messed,
The spirit reached Ottawa and our peo'
pie said, with one accord, LET Ottawa also
have boom" An important Industry In
the form of an Organ factory offered TO lo
cate among US II adequate Inducements
were held out, and our people with enthu.
siastic and generous promptness gave a
boaus Of 100000 and five acres of ground
and secured the prize. Soon after local
company was organized and Pottery was
erected that promises TO be another impor.
tant addition to our industries. Meantime
important additions were made 20 our var.
ious glass works, tile works and other ex
listing industries, the erection Of large and
important new business block was com
menced, and handsome new private resi-.
dences AS well as less pretentlous cottages
began 10 spring up all over the city. q
Over these apparently bright skies for
Ottawa threatening cloud has gathered,
Ottawa has imagined herself In possession
Of a valuable water power, upon which q
Plow Factory, Furniture Factory, two
planning mills, two large Touring mills, and
the large and important works Of the Pho
neer Fire Proofng Construction Co., have
been erected These are industries Ger
tainly second In importance 10 no Others In
the city. But through the criminal mis-
management and bid faith of the state au
thorities having charge of the Illinois and
Michigan canal these industries are not
only In danger of being badly crippled,
but ultimately destroyed.
The history of our water power, In
word, is this: When the canal was con
structed In order to secure water to feed II
from Marseilles TO La Sale, feeder was
constructed from the Fox river at Dayton
to Ottawa. II happened, however, that
John Green owned the riparian rights and
water Of the west half OF the river, Abra.
ham TrumbO owning the opposite half.
Mr. Green agreed In consideration that
the state would erect permanent dam and
construct navigable feeder TO Ottawa, to
cede half his water to the state, that half
or one. fourth of the river-Deing deemed
at the time sufficient not only for all needs
of the canal, but also to furnish a water
power at Ottawa, for the utilization of
which the side.cut and hydraulic basin
were constructed by the State.
Later on-in lSjl-the surplus water
from Dayton not being regarded, In view
of Mr.. Trumbo's right to half the river, as
sufficient to make reliable water power at
Ottawa II joint stock company was formed,
consisting of George Il. Walker, w. Ii. w.
Cushman, l.. Leland, j. V. A. Hoes and
Geo. s. Fisher, who having permanently
leased whatever water power the state had
at Ottawa, at an expense of $4,000 bought
out the right of Mr.. Trumbo to the east
half of the river at Dayton, and also salts
fled, at an expense of $4,000, the claim of
A. II, Rowland for damages for diverting
the waters of Fox river from his rapids at
what Is known as Lyman's mound Thus
the whole river, except what was reserved
by Mr.. Green, belonged to the Ottawa Hy-
draulic Company, and in consideration that
said Company would allow the state to use
a portion of its water to help feed the canal
In times of drought, as well as In fulfil.
ment of its engagement to supply the side
cut and basin at Ottawa, the state agreed to
keep the Dayton Feeder permanently In
good condition and repair
Now. how has the state, through Its pres
ent canal board, kept this solemn contract
and agreement? A week ago Mr. Robert
Wilson, well known thoroughly compe.
tent engineer, was sent to Dayton by per
SONS Interested In our industries dependant
on this water power, and made close ex.
He reports that although no
water rasses over the dam at Dayton, seoeh.
eighths of the water is taken or wastes out
of the feeder, and that one eighth reaches
Ottawa to feed the canal and supply our
hydraulic basin. WhyY Because of sheer
neglect of the canal authorities to pay the
least attention to the waste of water at and
below Dayton, and to keep the feeder clear
of bars and weeds so as to enable the water
to pass.
From 1859 to 1862 the same individual
who is now General Superintendent of the
canal had charge of that work at and
around Ottawa, and during that time the
same ineiliciency and stupidity In the man.
agement of the water power was displayed
that shows itself now, and that valuable
property became worthless. In 1868 the
of the canal passed into the
hands of VIM. Thomas, and from that time
on until 1885, such thing as deficiency
of water under q first class lease was I'M
known at Ottawa, except occasionally on
account of very thick Ice In extreme cold
weather.
With the return of Mr.. Leighton to
novar tho same lack of common sense or